students already in the schools, the Opposition spokesman for Education said last night.

Miss Jennifer Smith MP said she agreed with the criticisms voiced last week by former Bermuda College president Dr. Archie Hallett, who lambasted the system for producing a "meaningless'' secondary school certificate and students who are "functionally illiterate''.

"I share Dr. Hallett's concerns,'' Miss Smith said. "And I believe that parents and students should be anxious...'' Miss Smith was also critical of the Education Ministry's "kill the messenger'' response to Dr. Hallett.

"It sometimes seems that the United Bermuda Party Government has a policy that believes if you kill the messenger, you kill the message,'' she said.

"Legitimate concerns about functionally illiterate high school graduates, the lack of mathematical knowledge and the cost of remedial programmes for high school graduates led to Dr. Hallett being accused of `making an attack on the education system','' she said.

Miss Smith said she was particularly concerned given the Ministry's response to Dr. Hallett's comments.

On Monday, chief education officer Mr. Dean Furbert said Dr. Hallett had done a disservice to the Ministry and created unnecessary anxiety for parents and students.

Miss Smith noted that "just a few months ago'' Dr. Hallett was praised by the Government for his contributions to Education.

In his speech, Dr. Hallett also said that one third of Bermuda College's resources were spent attempting to correct the deficiencies of high school graduates.

In addition, he said, only 36 percent of Bermuda Secondary School Certificate holders met all (College) admission requirements.

Education Minister the Hon. Gerald Simons answered that he was not satisfied with the current level of local education. He also said the Island's system needed to do more to improve the quality of its mathematics -- another criticism of Dr. Hallett.